Doncaster prison slammed over condition for inmates

Doncaster Prison has been criticised by inspectors – for locking up inmates in cells without electricity or running water.

HMP Doncaster, which is run by private security firm Serco, was slammed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons after inspectors found its ‘performance was in decline’.

Inspectors said the prison was ‘experiencing real drift’, with levels of violence in the prison up to four times higher than similar jails.

The report revealed some prisoners had been locked in cells with no running water or electricity for more than two days and had spent only short periods out of the cells.

Inspectors also criticised the cleanliness of the prison and revealed problems with drugs.

They found arrangements for prisoners brought in on their first night were inadequate.

Commenting on the prison at the time of the inspection, chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick said: “Despite some positive features, Doncaster was a prison with much that had to be put right, some of it urgently.

“The prison was experiencing real drift and performance was in decline. Some staff seemed overwhelmed by the challenges confronting them.”

The report was published on the day Labour hosted a summit in Westminster about what the party calls a ‘growing crisis in Britain’s jails’.